Companies Act 2006

However I have set out below some of the main points to note from its implementation:

All companies incorporated under previous acts will now be regulated under the terms of this act.

All the forms used to file documents at Companies House will be amended as of the 1st October 2009.

Formation of companies/companies constitution and capacityThe information that had previously been supplied in the Memorandum of Association will now become part of the Articles of Association which will detail the company's objects and liabilities. The Memorandum of Association will purely now provide the details of the subscriber to the one subscriber share. There will be no other information required including the share capital.

The Articles will detail the objects and liabilities of a company. A full set of model Articles are available on the Companies House website. Please note you will not be able to refer to table A in the new Companies Act as there is no such provision. If you are a new company you should incorporate using the new Memorandum and Articles or alternatively, if you were incorporated before the 1st October 2009, the object provisions in the Memorandum of Association will now fall into the Articles. Table A of the1985 Act will still apply as they do form part of the Articles but everybody is advised that they should consider updating their articles in accordance with the new Companies Act. Please note that if you amend the Companies Articles they must be notified to Companies House within 15 days otherwise failure to comply with this will be a criminal offence and the Companies Act introduces a new civil penalty of £200 for failure to comply with such notification. Under the new Act there is no requirement to provide an authorised and nominal share capital on incorporation therefore you will not need to set out such limits in the Memorandum of the number of shares the directors can issue. Please note the Shareholders can seek controls on the issue of shares by directors in the articles.

In addition, on incorporation instead of having a statutory declaration executed in front of a solicitor you will merely have a statement of compliance which is designed to make the company incorporation process simpler. It will be a criminal offence to make a false statement of compliance.

Protection from Disclosure of residential addressesEvery director must provide Companies House with their usual residential address and a service address. The service address will be on the public record and will be public information but the residential address will remain protected. A director can choose any address of service including the registered office. The address cannot be a PO Box or a DX number. There is no cost for providing a service address.

Credit reference agencies and specific public authorities will still be able to obtain the directors residential address from Companies House. However, the director can request that credit reference agencies do not be supplied with their residential address if they are vulnerable directors.

Statement of Capital

Dissolution and Restoration of companies You will now be able to restore companies to the register without obtaining a Court Order. However, the Court power will still exist for those cases where the registrar cannot act.

For an administrative restoration you would apply to the Registrar of Companies to have the company restored and can only be used as follows:

The company who is carrying on business/or in operation at time of dissolution .

The company has been struck off under section 1000 and 1001 (Power to Stike of a Defunct Company).

Application is made within a period of 6 years after the date of dissolution.

The application is made by a former director or former secretary of the Company.

The Crown has signified consent.

The Company has delivered all necessary documents to bring the company up to date, i.e. all outstanding documents at the time of dissolution and any that have fallen due during the period of dissolution.

New companies must provide a Statement of Capital and initial shareholdings as part of their application. In addition, you must supply the same on the filing of every annual return after the 1st October 2009. The Statement of Capital must contain the following:

The total number of shares of the company.

The aggregate nominal value of those shares.

For each class of shares one prescribed particulars of those rights attached to the shares.

The total number of shares in that class.

The aggregate nominal value of the shares of that class.

The amount paid if any paid on each share.

The statement has to be issued when particular forms are being filed at Companies House. In brief the provisions introduced on 1st October 2009 are as follows:

Formation of companies.

Companies constitution and capacity.

Companies names and business names.

Re-registration of companies that means altering status.

Protection from disclosure of the residential addresses of company directors.

Shares and Share capital.

Company charges.

Dissolution and restoration to the register.

Unregistered companies and overseas companies.

Registrar of companies.

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Mr Fairfield

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Mrs Yates

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Mrs Chatburn

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Ms Fitzsimmons

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Ms Hedley

Rebecca is very good at explaining all the issues concerning making a Will. She dealt with my case efficiently and she has a very friendly manner.

Ms Bird

Rebecca was helpful and informative but she also gave us time to think things over without time pressure – thank you.

Mr & Mrs Harrington

My husband and I were very pleased and impressed by Ms Green when she came to our home she was very patient and helpful.

Mrs Lloyd

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Mrs Cunliffe

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Mr Nugent

We found Lorraine to be very understanding and dealt with us very professionally going the extra miles whilst we were out of the UK.

Ms Park-Wesley

Very happy with Lorraine and her team. They kept us informed at all times and advised us appropriately. We felt really valued as clients and would be happy to recommend Clough & Willis to family and friends.

Mr & Mrs Lloyd

Everyone I dealt with was polite and efficient. Emails and phone calls were replied to quickly. Made a good impression on me I would certainly recommend Lorraine to other would be sellers.

Ms Rhodes

I have been thoroughly impressed with Lorraine’s attention to details, which has ensured my interests have been looked after and protected. Lorraine is a professional, efficient and friendly partner at Clough & Willis and a true credit to the firm.

Mr Willis

Lorraine Stratton-Webb dealt with me in a professional manner, she kept me informed and made the move more easy than I had envisaged.

Ms Crowshaw

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Ms Hawly

We found Clough & Willis experienced as to put us at ease during our house sale and purchase which is stressful most of the time, so it’s good to have a firm like Clough & Willis to support you through it from start to finish.

Mr & Mrs Tate

Lorraine Stratton-Webb – “Strength in the face of adversity” - 4 days after I thought I would lose the house of my dreams she completed the purchase. Thank You.

Ms Dix

Thanks for a very professional approach during my house purchase. Buying for my first house I had complete faith in Lorraine Stratton-Webb leaving no stone unturned during property searches.

Mr Jones

I would have no hesitation in using Clough & Willis; the team offered a very fast and efficient service and I am delighted with the service received. Thank you very much to Lorraine and her team for another fast and trouble free turn around.

Ms Whitter

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Mr Makin

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Mr Kemp

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Mr Makin

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Client Satisfaction Questionnaire

I just wanted to say a quick word of thanks for your good advice yesterday concerning the settlement agreement.

Mr Cloke

Outstanding Service.

Ms McKenzie

Thank you for your help and patience in this matter.

JSM Estates

Everything was dealt with in a very professional way with no stress to me or family. We were kept up to date by letter and everything worked out very well. We were given an estimate of cost at the start and that’s the amount it came to – no nasty surprises

M Jones

Thank you Karen for working on our probate and house sales, we would use yourselves again in the future.

Mr Lomax

Karen Yates is a professional lady who is caring and makes me feel at ease at this difficult time and I would certainly recommend her to people I know. She also makes me feel important when dealing with me

Ms Crowshaw

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Ms Thomas

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Mr Birtwhistle

You put me at ease with the case and was very sensitive and understanding. Thank you for your help during this difficult time.

Ms Maiden

Many thanks to Karen Yates for her kindness, patience and explanation in a language that we could understand when dealing with our case.

Mrs O’Brien

Very helpful and friendly, put me at ease and made me feel comfortable. Would recommend Clough & Willis to anyone.

Mr Chapman

Karen Yates is a very good solicitor very caring for me and my partner as clients and I would like to thank her for all her help and patience.

Ms Crompton

From first contact to the last, everyone has been very professional and reassuring through what has been an emotional and stressful time for us and without the help of your company it would have been much more difficult for me and my husband.

Mrs Hilton

I would like to say how much I appreciated the home visit. Karen was very professional and put us at ease. Also a big thank you for the information supplied it was very kind of you to go the extra mile. Thank you.

Mrs Etchells

Karen has dealt with me in a very professional, approachable, understanding and sympathetic way. I am highly delighted with the service that I have received and will certainly be using Karen again.